Every living thing is important in an ecosystem, including you, and that is why we exist.
Photo via Rainforest Alliance
An ecosystem includes all living things such as plants, animals and organisms in a given area, interacting with one another, and also with the non-living things around them like the weather, earth, sun, soil, climate and atmosphere.
Each organism has its own role to play, which is very complex but wonderful at the same time. We help make the world go round, just by living.
However, the current extinction crisis is entirely of our own making due to more than a century of habitat destruction, pollution, the spread of invasive species, overharvest from the wild, climate change, population growth and other human activities have pushed nature to the brink, according to the United Nations.
Here are some things that we could do to help protect our endangered species from extinction, according to Huffpost.
#1 Educate yourself and the people around you
Don’t mind about the Tapirs and Malayan tigers in the rainforest. Educating yourself starts from home!
Photo via The RSPB Community
It’s about the ecosystem in your own backyard. Teach your friends and family about wildlife - the birds, fish and plants that are near you. Just awareness of these species is a great first step. From the worms in the garden to the bats that pollinate and control the mosquitoes, there are many ways that our daily habits at home affect these creatures.
#2 Recycle and buy sustainable products
Be mindful of the things you buy at the shops!
Photo via NS Packaging
Much of what threatens local populations has to do with development and more and more of the natural world is plundered to product new goods. Don’t buy furniture made of wood from rainforests or endangered trees. Recycle your old cell phones, because the mineral used in electronic production is mined in gorilla habitats.
#3 Reduce plastics
We’ve been reminded of this over and over again… bring your own reusable bag to the grocery store!
Photo via National Geographic
Bring your own reusable containers when buying takeouts and properly dispose of lightweight plastics. Wild animals, like our turtles, end up tangled in these products, or they could also end up in the ocean being ingested by small fish and killing off beneficial microorganisms
#4 Volunteer your time to protect wildlife in your area
Wildlife refuges, parks and other conservation places are often underfunded and are in desperate need for help.
Photo via Volunteering Solutions
Volunteering at one of these places to protect the animals might mean just educating visitors or picking up litter… which can be a huge change in the world. So, if you’re planning for a day out with your friends, why not volunteer together.
#5 Do not support the black market!
Sometimes when we travel, we don’t realize that the souvenirs we are buying are under threat.
Photo via WWF
Avoid supporting the market in illegal wildlife by not buying animal products including tortoise-shell, ivory and coral. Sometimes there are even live animals like fishes and scorpions being trapped in plastic as keychains which is very cruel!
There is so much that we can do to help protect our endangered species. Let’s make the changes now, guys!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
